NAACP chapters seeks growth through better communications

Published: Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 05:38 PM.

The incoming president of the Craven County Chapter of the NAACP wants to modernize the local group’s communication links by adding a Web page and dedicated d-mail address.

Marshall Williams, who served in the Marines and has lived in New Bern for 32 years, replaces longtime local President Alfred Barfield. Barfield has been elected district president, covering six counties.

Williams said there are more than 125 members on the local membership rolls and he would like to better reach them and add new members.

“We want to communicate better electronically,” he said. “We have a wealth of local talent and we want to utilize that talent. The struggle and the mission is the same.”

He said the website will feature general and educational information, as well as updates on legislative actions on issues relevant to local members concerning issues such as housing and jobs.

“We want to keep people informed about what is going on,” he said.

He said the role of the NAACP locally in this period of history includes being proactive about legislative topics, serving as an advocacy group and a lobby for working people and the poor.

The incoming president of the Craven County Chapter of the NAACP wants to modernize the local group’s communication links by adding a Web page and dedicated d-mail address.

Marshall Williams, who served in the Marines and has lived in New Bern for 32 years, replaces longtime local President Alfred Barfield. Barfield has been elected district president, covering six counties.

Williams said there are more than 125 members on the local membership rolls and he would like to better reach them and add new members.

“We want to communicate better electronically,” he said. “We have a wealth of local talent and we want to utilize that talent. The struggle and the mission is the same.”

He said the website will feature general and educational information, as well as updates on legislative actions on issues relevant to local members concerning issues such as housing and jobs.

“We want to keep people informed about what is going on,” he said.

He said the role of the NAACP locally in this period of history includes being proactive about legislative topics, serving as an advocacy group and a lobby for working people and the poor.

Voter registration also remains a major push of the organization.

Williams said he plans to speak out on issues, such as discrimination and hopes to host forums with local elected officials and law enforcement.

He also hopes to expand the chapter’s relationships with other local civic and social groups, as well as strengthen its own youth council.

Williams said the mission of the NAACP has remained constant, to ensure political, educational, social and economic equality of rights for all people, as well as eliminate discrimination and hatred.

“Everything falls under that,” he said.

Williams served four years in the Marines, spending the last two years at Cherry Point air station in 1978-79.

He returned to his home in Chicago after his enlistment was up, but found that the term “pink slip” was not a myth.

He worked as a welder for a contractor who was building railroad grain cars. Then, along came a grain embargo against Russia, enacted by President Jimmy Carter.

“When that happened, we all go laid off and I got a pink slip,” he recalled. “I though a pink slip was a myth. I told my mother I was going back to North Carolina.”

He returned to Eastern North Carolina, got a civilian service job at Cherry Point air station and has worked there for the past 32 years. He is an industrial engineering technician in aircraft systems.

He had met Carol Collins from Arapahoe and visited her via the Cherry Branch Ferry across the Neuse River. Within a month of returning to the area, the two were married.

The Craven NAACP Chapter meets the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Jasper Hayes Omega Center in New Bern.

For information about the chapter, call Williams at 637-6300.

Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or Charlie.hall@newbernsj.com.

Craven County Branch NAACP 2013

Incoming President Marshall Williams’ goals for upcoming year:
Increase membership from business and professional community in Craven County, appointing representatives from Craven townships
Staff all committees
Provide advocacy training for veterans; address education, political, economic, social and legal redress.
Establish Web page and modernize records and procedures.
Attend all municipality meetings
Be vocal on issues pertaining to discrimination.
Host forums with city mayors, county commissioners and police chiefs.
Partner with other civic and social organizations to make positive changes.
Support NAACP State Conference’s 14-point plan on legislative bills.
Strengthen the Branch Youth Council.